Motor-control system.



H. A. STEEN.

MOTOR CONTROL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 25.1914.

1 ,284,487. Patented Nov. 12, 1918* UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HALFDAN A. s'rnmv, or MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO ALLIS-CHALMERS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

7 MOTORI GONTBOL SYSTEM Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

Application filed July 25, 1914. Serial No. 853,164.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, HALFDAN A. S'rnnn, a subject of the King of Norway, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Motor-on trol Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention. relates in general to control devices and has particular reference to devices for automatically controlling electric motors. V v

In the control of electric motors best suited for certain-classes of work,it is sometimes desirable to vary the resistance of one or more of the motor circuits as the load on the motor varies. An instance of the use of a control system of this character is in connection with induction motors such as are used for driving a variable load, where a fly wheel is operative, when the load on the motor is below a predetermined value, to

' absorb the energy not required for driving the load, and where portions of the system are operative, when the load on. the motor exceeds the'predetermmed'value, to cause a slowing down of the motor for the purpose provide improved motor controlling apparatus, comprising a variable resistance device of improved design.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an, improved system of control for an induction motor driving a variable load, whereby the speed of the motor is automatically controlled as the loadthereon varies.

These and other objects are attained by this invention, the various novel features of drawings, disclosing one embodiment of such invention, and will be particularly pointed out in the claims. I

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the elements of a control system for electric which will appear from the description and s motors, embodying features of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a control system for electric motors, suchsystem being a modification of that shown in Fig. 1.

In accordance with Fig. l of the drawings, a motor M, shown as being of the induction type and having a fiy-wheel F mounted on its shaft, is supplied with energy from a polyphase line 1, 2, 3, switches S and S being inserted between the motor and the supply line for enabling the operation of the motor in one or the other direction, the

switch S being capable of connecting the motor directly to the line for operation in one direction, and the switch S being capable of connecting the motor to the supply line with the terminals of one of the phases reversed, so as to provide for operation of the motor in the opposite direction.

The secondary windmg of the induction motor is connected to slip rings 5, 6, 7, on the motor shaft. These slip rings are 1n turn connected to electrodes 8, 9, 10, of the resistance device R. The resistance device R,

in the form shown, comprises a receptacle or tank divided into upper and lower compartments, l2 and 13, respectively, by a horizontal partition 14; although, it will be obvious that a plurality of separate tanks, one ,disposed above the other,may be used. instead of the form of device shown. An opening 15 in the partition 14 allows communication between the compartments 12 and 13. In the normal operation of the device, the upper compartment 12 is adapted to contain liquid resistance material to a greater or less degree, to provide for the immersionv of the electrodes 8, 9, 10. A assage 16 between the upper portion of t eupper compartment 12 and the 4 lower compartment 13 serves as an over-flow, thus regulating the normal level of resistance material in the upper compartment. Another means of communication between the up er and lower compartments is flll'IllShGd y an opening 17 in a wall of'the u per compartment, com-- be used for operating the valve 21, through the lever 23 and the rod 22.

A pump P, driven by a'motor N, serves to convey electrolyte from the lower compartment 13 to the upper compartment 12, through a communicating passage 26. The circuit of the motor N, along with that of the magnet 25, is shown as eing supplied 25 from one phase ofthe circuit supplying the main motor M; lhis circuit of the motor N and magnet 25 is normally closed through the switches 28 and 29, which are capable of being operated to, open position by the 30 series magnets 31 and .32, respectively, when the current in the motor circuit reaches a predetermined value. The passage 26 from the pump P to upper compartment 12 may be provided withan adjustable gate or valve 34 which may serve, either alone or in conjunction with the valve or gate 18, to regulate the rateof flow of electrolyte into the compartment 12.

A resistance R. is connected across the leads associated with the slip rings 5,6, 7,

in shuntto the electrodes 8. 9, 10. This-resistance is permanently connected in circuit with the secondary of the motor, the circuit established between the electrodes 8, 9, 10,

a5 and the electrolyte in the upper compartment 12 serving as a shunt about the re-' sistanceR- 4 l I Electro-magnets 35, 36, serve to operate the switches S and 8., respectively. The

operating circuits of these magnets are shown as connected across one phase of the supply line, and a switch37, adapted to engage with the contacts 38,39,'serves to close one or the other of-these'operating circuits.

The circuit of the magnet-35 is normally completed throu h the switch 41, which is' the operating means of.-

so associated wit the switch S.,actuated by the ma et 36, as to be actuated when such'switch S is actu- 80 'ated. The circuit of the ma et 36 is normall completed through t e switch. 42, whie is so associated with the operating means of the switch S, actuated by the'magnet 35, as to be actuated when such switch S is actuated. When the magnet 35 is enerthe upper compartment.

'lyte from the lower tank, which 'gized, the switch 42 is moved to an upper .motor M, this switch 53 "is closed. 0perat ing means for this switch comprise a member 54,adapted to float on the surface of the electrolyte in the upper com artment 12, and a flexible connectlon 55' etween the float member 54 and the switch.

As shown in Fig. 1, the circuit of the motor M is open; To start the motor, say 5 in the direction provided for by the closure of switch S, the master switch 37 is moved so as to engage the contact 38, thus establishing the operating circuit" of the magnet 35, through switches 41 andv53. The switch S is operated 'to closed position and the switch 42 is moved to its upper position, forming a short-circuitin bridge, through the connection 51, about t e switches 41 and 53. it will be obvious that, on the completion of the motor cirpuit b the switch S, the magnet 25 is energize actuating the gate or valve 21 to close the opening 15, and the circuit of the motor N is closed, causing the pump P to supply electrolyte to s the secondary circuit of the motor M is always closed through the resistance R the motor starts slowly, its speed gradually increasing and the resistance of its secondray circuit gradually decreasing due to the influx of electroadually immerses the electrodes 8, 9, 10. e level of the electrolyte in the upper compartment rises until it reaches the inlet to the overflow 16, at which time the secondary of the motor is practically short circuit'ed.

Prior to starting the motor M, the valve 34 should be adjusted for the desired flow of electrolyte from the ump P to the compartment 12, and the va ve 18 should be so adusted as to permit such leakage from the upper tank, as allows the motor to accelerate at the'proper rate.

As the load on the motor increases be.- yond a predetermined value, the switches 28,

29, are actuated by their operating ma nets 31, 32, vto open the o crating circuits 0 the motor N and the e ectromagnet 25, causing; the stoppage of the ump P and the o ening of the valve 21. 'Bhisaction immediately causes an increase in the resistance of the secondary circuit of the motor M, with the consequent slowing down thereof, thus permitting the fly wheelF, mounted on the shaft of the motor, to slow down and giveup a portion of its energy to'the motor shaft. When the load drops to a normal value, the switches 28 and 29 close, ener-- gizing the magnet 25 to-close the valve 21, and completing the circuit of the ,pump' motor N. It will be obvious that the magnets 31, 32 will continue to regulate as the load on the motorchanges.

As the level of the electrolytein the upper compartment 12 rises, as during the motorstarting operation, the float 54 rises, permit ting the switch 53 to open. The opening of this switch 53 breaks the initial operating circuit of the magnets and 36, this action preventing the starting ofthe motor M in either direction, unless the resistance of the secondary circuit of the motor is a maximum, or that value corresponding to an absence of electrolyte from the up er compartment. It will be obvious that t is provision prevents the starting of the motor when there might be such heavycurrents in the motor secondary as would injure the windm s.

' 0 stop the motor M, the switch 37 is moved back to neutral position, thus breaking the circuit of the magnet 35 and permitting the switch S to open. This interruption of the circuit by the switch S,will cause the breaking of the circuit of the pump motor N and the magnet 25. To cause the motor to operate in a' reverse direction, the switch 37 is moved into engagement with the contact 39, thus completing the circuit ofthe operating magnet 36, which actuates the Sw1tch S to closed position andmoves the switch 41 to its upper position,- where it establishes a holding bridge for the magnet 36, throu h the connection 51, independent of the switches 42 and 53. The regulation of the motor, when operating in this direction, is accomplished by the magnets 31 and 32 in the same manner as when the switch S was closed.

In the system disclosed in Fig. 2, contacts 61, 62, 63 are connected to the slip rings 5,

6,7 of the motor M, in shunt to the resistance -R. and the electrodes 8, 9, 10. A switch 64,

actuated by a magnet 65, the circuit of which is closed when the electrolyte in the.

upper compartment 12 is at its upper level, efi'ects'the bridging of contacts 61, 62, 63. This switch forms a means for closing the secondary circuit ,of the motor, independentlyof the fixed resistance, R and the electrolyte in the compartment 12. The switch 53, which is actuated in response to changes inthe level of the electrolyte in the compartment 12, serves, in its lower position,-to close the circuit of the magnet 65, such circuit being, as shown, an independent one across the same phase of the supp y line as the operating circuit ofthe magnets 35 and 36. A switch'67, connected for actuation closed position, to open the supply circuit of the pump motor N.

The valve 18 which affords communica-' tion between the] upper compartment and the lower compartment may be provided with an electromagnet 71 for accomplishing the opening of the valve. This electromagnet includes a core 71, through which the stem of the valve 18 is adjustably threaded, the core being normally urged by aspring 18,, hearing on a projection on the core and the inner wall of the overflow passage 16, in such direction as to tend to seat the valve in the opening 17. It is preferable that the valve 18 remain closed, or in the position to which it is urged by the spring 18,, until the load on the motor M reaches a certain predetermined value, the regulating valve 34 in the passage 26 serving to adjust the rate of flow of electrolyte into the upper tank to regulate the rate of acceleration of the motor. The energizing circuit of the magnet 71 is completed by the switches 28, 29, operated by the solenoids 31 and 32, when the load on the motor reaches a predetermined value. The degree of opening of the valve 18,, on the energization of the magnet 71, may be regulated by adjusting the position of the valve stem relatively to the core 71,. This adjustment has the effect of varying the initialposition of the core 71 and the amount of travel of the same and of the valve carried thereby, on energization of the electro-v magnet.

The switches 28 and 29 serve the double purpose of closing the circuit of the valve operating magnet 71 and interrupting the circuit of the pump motor, although this latter action is effective for the purpose only during acceleration of the motor, that is, while the switch 67 is in its lower posltion.

As shown, the magnet 25 is connected to the supply through a circuit independent of the pump motor circuit, this magnet being energlzed and deenergized only on the closure and openingof'the main motor circuit, re-

spectively. v

A circuit breaker 75 may be provided in the supply circuit of the motor M. This circuit breaker is normally held in closed position by a latch 76 which is adapted to be establishing a. holding circuit through the connection 51, independent of ,the switches 41 and 53.

On the closure of the switch S, the motor M starts, its secondary circuit being closed through the permanent resistance R the pump motor N starts, and the magnet 25 is energized to cause the closing of the valve 21. The valve 34, having been properly adjusted, regulates the degree of acceleration of the motor M by permitting electrolyte to enter the upper compartment at the proper rate. The motor M speeds up as electrolyte is admitted to the upper compartment, reducing theresistance of the secondary circuit, so that by the time the motor is up to speed, the level of the electrolyte is approximately at the inlet of the overflow 16. As the level of the electrolyte rises inthe compartment 12, the float 54 is carried upward, permitting the switch 53 to open; and, when the float is at-a level corresponding to the inlet to the overflow 16, the switch 53 is in its lower position in which it completes the circuit of the magnet 65. Energization of this magnet causes the actuation of the switch 64 to bridge the contacts 61, 62, 63, establishing a short circuit for the motor secondary, independent of the resistance R, .or the electrolyte in the compartment 12. Actuation of the switch 64 causes actuation of the switch 67 to open the circuit of the pump motor N. 4

' The parts remain in this condition while the motor continues to operate at normal speed or there is a normal load on the motor. As the load on the motor increases beyond this normal value, the magnets 31 and 32 cause the actuation of the switches 28 and 29 to open the circuit of the motor N and to close the operating circuit of the magnet 71, causing the opening-of the valve 18 to permit flow of electrolyte from the upper compartment 12. As the level, of electrolyte in thiscompartment falls, the circuit of the magnet 65 is opened by the'switch 53, permitting opening of the switch 64 and the closing of the switch 67 It will be apparent that the circuit of the magnet 71 will remain closed while the load on the motor is above normal, thus permitting an increase in the secondary resistance by leakage from the upper compartment through the valve '18.. while the overload continues. When the load drops, the switches 28 and 29 drop to their lower positions and the valve .18 is permitted to close, and the pump motor circuit is closed, the switch 67 being in its lower position. Electrolyte is now pumped to the upper compartment until it reaches its upper level, or until the load on the motor Magain increases beyond normal value, in which case the operation previously described is repeated.

It will be apparent that, in the system disclosed in Fig. 2, the switches 28 and 29 are effective to'control the circuit of the pump motor-only while the main motor M is accelerating, either from rest, as during the starting operation, or from a low speed which results on the occurrence of an overload, since, at other times, the switch 67 is open, rendering control by the switches 28, 29 inefiective.

While it might be possible to avoid the use of the auxiliary resistance 3,, nevertheless, such a resistance is of great utility. As, this forms the sole resistance in the second ary circuit when the primary circuit of the motor is closed, itwill be obvious that the starting current is always the same.

Again, where the resistance afforded by the electrolyte, forced into the upper compartment 12 by the pump, is depended upon alone to establish a starting resistance, it will be apparent that the motion of the electrolyte about the ends of the electrodes 8, 9, 10, causes a varying resistance and there may be unsatisfactory sparking at these points; and further, the percentage of salt in the electrolyte solution may cause considerable difference in the starting resistance. With the present arrangement, when the water reaches the electrodes 8, 9, 10, no arcing takes place for the reason that the c rcuit is already closed through the reslstance B... By using this auxiliary resistance, the size of the liquid resistance device R may be considerably decreased, as a art of the energy lost in startin and reguating the motor is absorbed in t is permanent resistance. While the pump motor N is shown as bemg connected across a single phase of the supply line, it will be obvious that this motor may boot the polyphase type, or may be a motor of the direct curent type.

It will be obvious that the system shown in either Fig. 1 or Fig. 2 might be modified to the extent that, on the occurrence of an overload of a predetermined degree, the circuit of the magnet 25 alone would be interrupted,

ters Patent:

1. In a motor control system, a motor, switch means for completing the motor circuit, a 1i uid rheostat in the circuit of the motor, sa1d rheostat comprising a receptacle adapted to contain electrolyte, electrodes immersible in electrolyte in said receptacle to vary the resistance of said motor circuit, and means comprising a controlling float operative in said receptacle for preventing the operation of said switch means to start said motor unless the resistance of said circuit is at a maximum value.

2. In a motor control system, a motor, a variable resistance in the circuit of said motor embodying a liquid rheostat comprising a receptacle adapted to contain liquid resistance material, electrodes immersible in said receptacle, means. for furnishing liquid resistance material to said receptacle, means for regulating the rate of immersion of said electrodes and the rate of discharge of said resistance material from said receptacle 4 when said electrodes are fully immersed, and,

means responsive to a predetermined load on the motor for causing a variation in the amount of resistance material in said receptacle.

3. In a motor control system, a motor, a variable resistance in the circuit of the motor comprising a liquid rheostat embodying a plurality of compartments, electrodes immersible in electrolyte in one of. said comartments, means for circulating electrolyte rom another of said compartments to the first compartment, and means operative to cause the discharge of electrolyte from the electrode-containing compartment to the other compartment at a rate greater than normal when the load on said motor is above a predetermined value until the load becomes normal again.

4. In a motor control system, a motor, a variable resistance in the circuit of said mo tor comprising a liquid rheostat embodying a plurality of com artments, electrodes immersible in electro yte in one of said compartments, means effective to supply e lectrolyte from another. of'said compartments to the first compartment and permitting the discharge of electrolyte from. said latter.

compartment at apredetermined rate, and means operative to cause the discharge of electrolyte from the electrode-containing compartment to the other compartment at a rate greater than normal when the load on said motor is above a predetermined value and to restore the normal rate of supply and discharge when the motor load becomes normal again.

5. In a motor control system, a motor, a variable resistance in the circuit of the motor, means rendered operative on the completion of the motorcircuit for varying the resistance thereof, means rendered operative on. the insertion of a predetermined amount of resistance for short circuiting said variable resistance, and load res onsive means for accomplishing the remova of said short circuit and the variation of said resistance.

.to said receptacle for causing variation of the degree of immersion of said electrodes, and means responsive to the load on said motor for affecting the operation of said latter means to cause slowin down of said motor as the load increases eyond a predetermined value to permit the fly wheel to give up a portion of its energy.

7. In a motor control system, a motor, a fly wheel associated therewith, a Variable resistance device in the circuit of said motor and comprisin a liquid rheostat embodying a receptacle a apted to contain electrolyte and electrodes immersible therein, means for forcing electrolyte into said electrode-containing receptacle, means for permitting th discharge of electrolyte from said receptacle and means responsive to an excessive load on said motor for controlling said dischargepermitting means to thereby cause slowing down of said motor through a decrease in the amount of electrolyte in said receptacle.

8. In a motor control system, a motor, a liquid rheostat in the circuit of said motor comprising a receptacle adapted to contain electrolyte, electrodes immersible in electrolyte in said receptacle, means operative on the closure ofthe motor circuit for permitting the immersion of said electrodes,

means for accomplishing the immersion of said electrodes comprisinga pump for furnishing electrolyte to said receptacle and a valve that is normally, at least partially, closed, means responsive to the amount of electrolyte in said receptacle for rendering said pump inoperative, and means respon sive to the load on said motor, for actuating said valve to permit an increased discharge of electrolyte from said receptacle.

operative in response to a predetermined load on said motor for efiectm the operation of one or the other of sai supplying means and said discharge-permitting means to decrease the degree of immersion of said electrodes.

10. In a motor control system, an induction motor, and a combined starting and slip-regulating rheostat in the secondary cirrial to, said receptacle for varying the decuit of said motor, said rheos'tat comprising In testimony whereof, the signature of the a receptacle, electrodes in said receptacle, a inventor is afiixed hereto in the presence of 10 pump for supplying liquid resistance mate two witnesses. gree of immersion of said electrodes and HALFDAN STEEN means operative in responseto a predeter- Witnesses: mined load on said motor for-regulating the W. H. Lmnnn, operation of said pump. J. J. KANE. 

